I was right. We went to a Ruby Tuesday in Florida last year, and I thought the food was terrible. When I returned home, looked up the nutritional information and I vowed to never, ever go there again. But at least they make the info, however horrible, available.

Your favorite fast food restaurant is often like your favorite city: Visit some neighborhoods and you live the high life. Visit others and you’re just plain asking for trouble. And that’s where Eat This, Not That! (http://www.eatthis.com/?cm_mmc=MSN-_-Product-_-ETNT%20Americas%20Unhealthiest%20Restaurants-_-Eat%20This%20Not%20That%20Online%20EL) comes in: We’ve analyzed and graded 66 different chain restaurants—fast food and sit-down—to determine which ones have healthy options, and which could turn out to be diet disasters. What we found will surprise you. Specifically, some of the fast food joints you’ve come to think of as terrible for you actually ranked alright—McDonald’s scored a B+, for example, so the Micky D’s drive-through just might be your fast-lane to weight loss. Something even more shocking, though: More than half of the sit-down restaurants we graded ended up with our lowest scores!
To separate the commendable from the deplorable, we calculated the total number of calories per entrée. This gave us a snapshot of how each restaurant compared in average serving size—a key indicator of unhealthy portion distortion. Then we rewarded establishments with fruit and vegetable side-dish choices, as well as offering whole-wheat bread. Finally, we penalized places for excessive amounts of trans fats and menus that temp you with gut-busting desserts. Hey, if the neighborhood is crowded with shady characters, sooner or later, one of them will jump you.
Here’s our list of the Worst Restaurants in America. It’ll help you stay on the safer side of town.
Baskin-Robbins: D+
We thought we'd see some improvements after we identified Baskin's Heath Shake as the Worst Drink on the Planet. All they did was lower it from 2,300 to 1,900 calories, leaving an almost equally egregious drinkable disaster to set back unsuspecting sippers. It’s typical of the menu there; B-R’s soft serve is among the most caloric in the country, the smoothies contain more sugar than fruit, and most of what Baskin sticks into a cup winds up with more fat than a steakhouse buffet. Check out our list of the 20 Unhealthiest Drinks in America (http://www.menshealth.com/eatthis/Unhealthiest_Drinks_in_America/index.php?cm_mmc=MSN-_-ETNT-_-Americas%20Unhealthiest%20Restaurants-_-The%2020%20Unhealthiest%20Drinks%20in%20America%20 EL) to see other liquid offenders. If you learn how to make smart choices when you sip, you can lose a few pounds a month—without giving up your favorite foods or ever dieting again.
Survival strategy: With frozen yogurt, sherbet, and no-sugar-added ice cream, Baskin's lighter menu is the one bright spot. Just be sure to ask for your ice cream in a sugar or cake cone—the waffle cone will swaddle your treat in an extra 160 calories.
Carl’s Jr.: D+
Most fast-food restaurants today are making at least some attempt to offset their bulging burgers and deep-fried sides with healthier options such as lean sandwiches or yogurt parfaits. But Carl's Jr. is swimming against the nutritional tide, trying to attract those with hearty appetites and less concern about fat, salt, and calories. The lightest item on the breakfast menu, for instance, is the Hash Brown Nuggets—but even they have 21 grams of fat, and 5.5 of them are trans fats. (As a rule, you should try to get 2 grams or fewer of the stuff in an entire day!) The burgers are worse, and there's not a side on the menu that hasn't been given a long, bubbling bath in their trans-fatty frying oil.
Survival strategy: Find another place to grab lunch. Failing that, you should settle on either the Charbroiled Chicken Salad with Low-Fat Balsamic Dressing or the Charbroiled BBQ Chicken Sandwich—the only sandwich on the menu with fewer than 400 calories.
Denny’s: D+
Too bad the adult menu at Denny's doesn't adhere to the same standard as the kids' menu. The famous Slam breakfasts all top 800 calories, and the burgers are even worse. The Double Cheeseburger is one of the worst in the country, with 116 grams of fat, 7 of which are trans fats. Make sure you try to avoid it whenever possible.
Survival strategy: The Fit Fare menu gathers together all the best options on the menu. Outside of that, stick to the sirloin, grilled chicken, or soups. For breakfast, order a Veggie Cheese Omelet or create your own meal from à la carte options such as fruit, oatmeal, toast, and eggs.

I eat about 2 Dairy Queen Twist cones a year and I've eaten steak a couple of times at the Outback. I don't care about health when I eat out. If you watch it 80% of time, you can eat like a drunken Roman Emperor the rest of the time with no problems. :D

SarasotaRepub

03-24-2009, 07:21 PM

Denny's rules baby!!! Grand Slam is da best!!!:D

SaintLouieWoman

03-24-2009, 07:51 PM

I eat about 2 Dairy Queen Twist cones a year and I've eaten steak a couple of times at the Outback. I don't care about health when I eat out. If you watch it 80% of time, you can eat like a drunken Roman Emperor the rest of the time with no problems. :D

Not if you have high blood pressure. If you look at the sodium content on many of those meals, it's enough to almost kill you.

I don't like Outback, think there food isn't that good. If I'm going out, prefer to go to a non-chain place. If I'm going to splurge, it's somewhere that has excellent food (not necessarily expensive). Food doesn't have to be drowning in fat and salty enough to make you drink a gallon of water. Better food doesn't need all that crap on it, but gets its taste from the judicious use of herbs.

BOOYAH!! Screw that sissy nutritional guide crap! Every time I see that shit on a menu I wanna bunch the server. :mad:

PoliCon

03-24-2009, 08:01 PM

Not if you have high blood pressure. If you look at the sodium content on many of those meals, it's enough to almost kill you. Then you shouldn't eat out. No reason why the rest of us should have to suffer!:p

I don't like Outback, think there food isn't that good. If I'm going out, prefer to go to a non-chain place. If I'm going to splurge, it's somewhere that has excellent food (not necessarily expensive). Food doesn't have to be drowning in fat and salty enough to make you drink a gallon of water. Better food doesn't need all that crap on it, but gets its taste from the judicious use of herbs.:rolleyes:

Gingersnap

03-24-2009, 09:30 PM

Not if you have high blood pressure. If you look at the sodium content on many of those meals, it's enough to almost kill you.

Depends on your condition. Mr. Snaps does have high blood pressure but he does not have a renin complication - only about 25% of HBP people do. For the rest, sodium intake doesn't affect them, either way.;)

SaintLouieWoman

03-24-2009, 10:05 PM

Then you shouldn't eat out. No reason why the rest of us should have to suffer!:p
:rolleyes:

That's not what I said. It just helps to have information so the decision can be made. Enjoy whatever you want, doesn't matter one bit to me what you do. :rolleyes:

SaintLouieWoman

03-24-2009, 10:06 PM

Depends on your condition. Mr. Snaps does have high blood pressure but he does not have a renin complication - only about 25% of HBP people do. For the rest, sodium intake doesn't affect them, either way.;)

I'll be sure to tell my board certified internist and the dietician at one of the major medical centers that Ginger on the internet suggested that she knew better.

PoliCon

03-24-2009, 10:23 PM

That's not what I said. It just helps to have information so the decision can be made. Enjoy whatever you want, doesn't matter one bit to me what you do. :rolleyes:

Yes but It's annoying trying to enjoy the menu when you have to look at those damn stupid nutritional labels on everything! :mad:

FYI - this article has boosted my opinion of every resteraunt on the list. :)

Gingersnap

03-24-2009, 10:28 PM

I'll be sure to tell my board certified internist and the dietician at one of the major medical centers that Ginger on the internet suggested that she knew better.

This is actually a really cool book that steers you to the lo-cal options in restaurants without sacrificing the dining out feeling.

noonwitch

03-25-2009, 09:23 AM

I went to a Ruby Tuesday's a couple of years back, and it was terrible. It was my then 4 year old neice's choice for her birthday. I wish she had chosen Applebees, where even if the food is terribly unhealthy, it at least tastes good. Max and Erma's would have been even better.

I worked at an IHOP when I was 16. It was my first job. I will never eat in one again. The one I worked at no longer exists. It was in the parking lot at Woodland Mall in Grand Rapids. I was the only waitress who worked at night who didn't smoke dope, so I would have to cover everything while the rest of the staff were in back getting high.

A few months after I quit, the place was featured on the local news special about nasty restaurants. The interesting thing is that the guy who owned it was a really nice guy. He owned the other IHOP on the west side, and the manager of that one did a much better job, and the place was clean and the food was better. The manager of the one I worked at was a greasy little man who liked to look at tall high school girls in short and tight uniforms all day, when he wasn't playing Space Invaders on the game in the lobby.

PoliCon

03-25-2009, 09:43 AM

Max and Erma's would have been even better. ummmmm their bacon & bleu burger is to die for! :cool:

linda22003

03-25-2009, 09:49 AM

I've been to Max and Erma's in Pittsburgh, and wasn't impressed. Not when you can go to Primanti's....:D

Rebel Yell

03-25-2009, 09:55 AM

Denny's rules baby!!! Grand Slam is da best!!!:D

You asked about Hardee's, here it is.....

Carl’s Jr.: D+
Most fast-food restaurants today are making at least some attempt to offset their bulging burgers and deep-fried sides with healthier options such as lean sandwiches or yogurt parfaits. But Carl's Jr. is swimming against the nutritional tide, trying to attract those with hearty appetites and less concern about fat, salt, and calories. The lightest item on the breakfast menu, for instance, is the Hash Brown Nuggets—but even they have 21 grams of fat, and 5.5 of them are trans fats. (As a rule, you should try to get 2 grams or fewer of the stuff in an entire day!) The burgers are worse, and there's not a side on the menu that hasn't been given a long, bubbling bath in their trans-fatty frying oil.
Survival strategy: Find another place to grab lunch. Failing that, you should settle on either the Charbroiled Chicken Salad with Low-Fat Balsamic Dressing or the Charbroiled BBQ Chicken Sandwich—the only sandwich on the menu with fewer than 400 calories.

I've been to Max and Erma's in Pittsburgh, and wasn't impressed. Not when you can go to Primanti's....:D
Well Primati Bro's is an experience that must be had.

linda22003

03-25-2009, 09:59 AM

French fries and coleslaw IN the damn sandwich. Is this a great country, or what?

http://blogs.menupages.com/philadelphia/0624primanti.jpg

Rebel Yell

03-25-2009, 10:01 AM

French fries and coleslaw IN the damn sandwich. Is this a great country, or what?

http://blogs.menupages.com/philadelphia/0624primanti.jpg

Looks kinda like the "smashed sandwiches" I ate in the French Riviera. Thanks for reminding me.:mad:

Gingersnap

03-25-2009, 10:02 AM

French fries and coleslaw IN the damn sandwich. Is this a great country, or what?

http://blogs.menupages.com/philadelphia/0624primanti.jpg

I have seen this on those roadside America shows and I'm still astonished. I adore a really good french fry but I can't imagine eating them inside a burger. :eek:

PoliCon

03-25-2009, 10:04 AM

I have seen this on those roadside America shows and I'm still astonished. I adore a really good french fry but I can't imagine eating them inside a burger. :eek:

Not a burger! A Sammitch! :rolleyes: GAHHHHHwwddd

linda22003

03-25-2009, 10:04 AM

I don't recall that they do burgers this way; perhaps they do. I'm willing to bet the sandwich porn shown is their corned beef. mmmm.... and to think I was there last week and didn't get to Primanti's....

Road Trip!

Gingersnap

03-25-2009, 10:08 AM

Not a burger! A Sammitch! :rolleyes: GAHHHHHwwddd

Oh, please! Like I can tell what's in there from the pic. The only thing I could identify were the fries. :rolleyes:

:D

Phillygirl

03-25-2009, 10:15 AM

I've been to Max and Erma's in Pittsburgh, and wasn't impressed. Not when you can go to Primanti's....:D

I really really need to go there!

linda22003

03-25-2009, 10:21 AM

I really really need to go there!

Here's how to get to the Strip from Rittenhouse Square; happy to help. You might find step 8 rather time consuming. :D

Good Lord! I wouldn't bother with a trip that complex for a deep-fried elk, let alone a sandwich. :eek:

linda22003

03-25-2009, 10:25 AM

Good Lord! I wouldn't bother with a trip that complex for a deep-fried elk, let alone a sandwich. :eek:

No, but Philly might.

PoliCon

03-25-2009, 10:40 AM

Good Lord! I wouldn't bother with a trip that complex for a deep-fried elk, let alone a sandwich. :eek:

What do you want from directions from a city at one end of the state to a city at the OTHER end of the state??

Gingersnap

03-25-2009, 10:48 AM

What do you want from directions from a city at one end of the state to a city at the OTHER end of the state??

I'd just make a peanut butter sandwich and call it a day. :p

PoliCon

03-25-2009, 10:49 AM

I'd just make a peanut butter sandwich and call it a day. :p

You have obviously never had a Primanti's!:p

Phillygirl

03-25-2009, 10:49 AM

No, but Philly might.

Heh...I actually might be in town in June, and if I am, I am going to make time to stop there. Watching them make the sandwiches on the food porn channels has made me really really crave one. Of course, I should probably hike back home to take care of the calories afterwards! :p

linda22003

03-25-2009, 10:51 AM

I don't worry about the calories, because my husband and I split one. There's no way we could get through a whole one apiece.

PoliCon

03-25-2009, 10:52 AM

I don't worry about the calories, because my husband and I split one. There's no way we could get through a whole one apiece.

Just make sure you add egg!

Space Gravy

03-25-2009, 10:59 AM

I don't worry about the calories, because my husband and I split one. There's no way we could get through a whole one apiece.

I've seen that place on TV. One guy ate three of those in an hour for the show.

linda22003

03-25-2009, 11:06 AM

Probably that "Man vs. Food" guy. I'm expecting to hear about his sudden death any day, whether from heart failure or choking remains to be determined.

PoliCon

03-25-2009, 11:26 AM

Probably that "Man vs. Food" guy. I'm expecting to hear about his sudden death any day, whether from heart failure or choking remains to be determined.

Meh. Any REAL man can eat two in one sitting. :p

Phillygirl

03-25-2009, 11:31 AM

I don't worry about the calories, because my husband and I split one. There's no way we could get through a whole one apiece.

My guess is that even eating only 1/2 is going to do some real damage to South Beach! But it looks worth every fat gram!

linda22003

03-25-2009, 11:55 AM

My guess is that even eating only 1/2 is going to do some real damage to South Beach! But it looks worth every fat gram!

Hell, it's worth the drive.

Molon Labe

03-25-2009, 12:50 PM

I ate at an On the Border last Sunday. I'm sorry to see it listed here. :( The food was pretty good for a chain.

Space Gravy

03-25-2009, 08:39 PM

Probably that "Man vs. Food" guy. I'm expecting to hear about his sudden death any day, whether from heart failure or choking remains to be determined.